Their side have won four of their past five matches, a sequence they will be optimistic of extending before a Macron Cup semi-finals encounter with Premier Division rivals Congleton at the end of the month.

They might have led inside five minutes against the Linnets but Scott McGowan’s slotted finish rolled wide of the target.

Northwich goalkeeper Tony Aghayere was called into action at the other end 60 seconds later, stopping Connor Finlayson’s shot before a scramble ended with a teammate throwing his body in the path of the ball.

McGowan opened the scoring on 19 minutes, intercepting a stray pass before running into the visitors’ penalty area placing a shot out of custodian Ben Fletcher’s reach.

Chad Whyte’s drive from distance was palmed to safety by Aghayere but he could not prevent Ryan Grier netting an equaliser from close-range.

Jordan Lorde was thwarted by the hosts’ number one before Finlayson screwed an effort wide after 1874 had gifted possession to their guests.

Debutant Aaron Smith was then unlucky to see a direct strike from a free-kick strike the crossbar with Burscough’s goalkeeper beaten.

Bowyer and Goodison sent on Danny Meadowcroft for Jack Irlam after the interval, moving Mark Jones into a midfield role, and it enabled their team to take control.

McGowan made it 2-1 when he turned in Michael Koral’s cross at the near post before the latter got his name on the score-sheet with a powerful drive.

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